Northern Irish designer David Irwin has launched the Setter Swivel, a new line of fully upholstered office chairs built for flexibility and comfort
Echoing the original Setter’s bold silhouette from 2018, the range is reimagined for the modern workplace with refined ergonomics and modular construction. “Evolving the Setter for the office environment was a challenge, particularly because the original was based on a wooden dining chair typology,” Irwin tells OnOffice. “The aim was to make it suitable as an occasional task chair or a boardroom meeting chair, while still retaining the character and familiarity of the original.”
Photography by Mark Slater
Designed to support dynamic working environments, the Setter Swivel is available on either a fixed four-star or adjustable five-star base. This new iteration offers greater mobility, adaptability and day-to-day comfort.
“The Setter has a very distinctive silhouette, which comes from a body-led approach,” explains the designer. “The form was shaped by the points where the body interacts with the chair, including short armrests and a backrest designed for both comfort and utility.
Photography by Mark Slater
“Translating this into a more technical office setting meant carefully balancing ergonomic support with the same sculptural clarity of the original. One key development was the removable fabric covers – something I was keen to push. They allow for cleaning, repair or replacement, which adds longevity, but they also introduced additional complexity. The backrest had to be shaped in a way that remained functional, while also allowing it to be assembled and disassembled as a separate component. All in all, the distinctive character of the original has been retained – just evolved to suit a different context.”
Photography by Mark Slater
Built in the UK and guided by principles of sustainability, the Setter extends Deadgood’s commitment to design that is easy to maintain and even re-use. “We’ve always believed in thinking globally but starting locally. As we grow, we’re really focused on building a supply chain that supports our local communities and reflects a strong sense of regional identity,” says Elliot Brook, founder and director of Deadgood.
“We try to think about the full life of a product from the beginning: how it looks, how it works, how it’s delivered, and what happens to it when it’s no longer needed. Can it be taken apart easily? Can it be repaired or reused?”
Photography by Mark Slater
To work towards circularity, Deadgood has set up the ReLove programme, which offers to repair, reuse or recycle its old products to help reduce the impact on the environment. “It’s just one of the ways we’re trying to reduce waste and keep things in use for longer,” says Brook.
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